Alternator and rectifier mounting



March 4, 1952 R. c. OGILVY ALTERNATOR AND RECTIFIER MOUNTING INVENTOR.

many l Filed June 16, 1950 BY Aoaer C OG/L m, ("I I @0449; 1 r

Armsys Patented Mar. 4, 1952 ALTERNATOR AND RECTIFIER MOUNTING Robert C. Ogilvy, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to The Leece-Nevilie Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application June 16, 1950, Serial No. 168,549

Claims.

This invention relates to mounting devices and, more particularly, to an improved construction for an alternator-rectifier mounting means.

As one of its objects this invention provides an improved device for mounting an alternator, or an alternator-rectifier unit, on a motor vehicle and which is of a simple and economical construction adapted to be easily assembled and installed and which will be adjustable for positioning the rectifier to best advantage in the air stream of the engine cooling system of the vehicle, as well as for belt tightening purposes and for avoiding vibration interference with adjacent vehicle parts which might cause short circuiting of, or damage to the rectifier.

Another object is to provide an improved mounting device of this character which comprises fieXibly connected rigid arcuate members forming a band means adapted to receive the alternator and clampingly embrace the frame thereof.

A further object is to provide an improved mounting device of the character mentioned in which the flexibly connected rigid arcuate members forming the band means include a pair of oppositely extending arms of a bracket member and in which such bracket member carries a post adapted to supportingly engage an axial shaft projection of the alternator.

Still another object is to provide an improved alternatcr-rectifier mounting means in which flexibly connected rigid arcuate members form a band means adapted to receive and clampingly embrace the alternator and carrier arm means projecting outwardly from such band means forms a support for the rectifier.

Yet another object is to provide improved alternator-rectifier mounting means of the type referred to in which the rigid arcuate members of the band means have teeth or serrations thereon disposed in peripherally extending rows and the carrier arm means for the rectifier also has teeth or serrations thereon engageable with different selected portions of the tooth rows of the band means for adjustably holding the carrier arm means in a desired location.

As another object, this invention provides improved alternator-rectifier mounting means of thischaracter in which the rigid arcuate members carrying the rows of serrations also have slots therein adjacent the rows of serrations and .extending peripherally of the band means, and

in which the serrations of the carrier arms for the rectifier are adapted to be releasably held in meshing engagement with the serrations of the z band means by clamping members extending through the slots of the band means.

It is also an object of this invention to provide improved alternator-rectifier apparatus in which an alternator and a rectifier are mounted on a motor vehicle in such relation to the radiator and cooling fan thereof that these electrical devices, and particularly the rectifier, will be traversed and cooled by the stream of cooling air.

The invention can be further briefly described as consisting in certain novel combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and particularly set out in the claims hereof.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings,

Fig. 1 is a partial side elevation of a motor vehicle having the improved alternator-rectifier apparatus of this invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the improved alternator-rectifier apparatus in detached relation;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the alternatorrectifier mounting means;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation thereof but with the carrier arms for the rectifier omitted; and

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional detail view taken through the band means on line 55 of Fig. 3.

By the use of the improved mounting means provided by this invention an alternator-rectifier unit H] is adapted to be mounted on a motor vehicle II in such relation to the radiator l2 and cooling fan [3 of the vehicle that this unit will be traversed by the stream of cooling air. Provision for mounting such an alternator-rectifier unit in this relative location is important in a vehicle electrical system embodying such a unit, because it will provide for an adequate cooling of the rectifier for a safe and efficient functioning of the electrical system.

The vehicle I 1 includes a conventional internal combustion driving engine I i which is located rearwardly of the radiator 12 and cooling fan.

13 and has a pair of pulleys l5 and I6 mounted on the forward end of its crankshaft and forming an auxiliary power take-off means. The fan I3 has a pulley ll connected therewith and is adapted to be driven from the pulley [5 by a belt [8. A second belt 19 extends around the pulley It and a pulley 20 of the alternator-rectifier unit It] for driving the alternator of this unit.

The alternator-rectifier unit It comprises an alternator 22, a rectifier 23 and a mounting device 24 which supports these devices and holds them in a mechanically connected relation to form this unit. The alternator 22 may be an inductor type of alternator having a stator which The alternator 22 is more fully disclosed, and

is claimed, in copending patent application Serial No. 186,400, filed September 123, 1950=. A

The rectifier 23 is of a conventional construction and is here shown as beingof the type comprising a group or pack 'ofplat'es"3fl and having appropriate terminals 31 for connection with the terminals 29 of the alternatorsand.with'the load circuit of the electrical system of the vehicle.

The rectifier 23 can be further described as being a three-phase full-wave rectifier of the dry-plate type. The plate -packof this rectifier'is provided at opposite ends thereof with'outwardly projecting mounting'screws-32-whichare suitably connected with "the plate -pack' -by -means of the electrically insulating 'blocks33.

' The mounting "device 24-c0mprisesa bracket member35and a pair of rigid-arcuate band members 35 and 31' connected with such bracket member. The bracket member=35 includesa base por- 'tion 38 adapted for'seating-engagementwith a support which is here representedby an adapter fitting or bracket-39. The bracket-member 35-a1so includes a pair-"of'rigid 'arcuatearms-Ml and extending" outwardly and upwardly from opposite sides ofthe base portion38. Asshownin the drawing, the bracket-member35 additionally includes an upright integral-post 42'at the rear end of the base portion 38-and adapted for supporting connectionwith-the aXia1shaft' proj eotion 23 of the alternator 22. For this supporting connection the upper end --of this post is provided with an opening 42a adapted to recei've' the shaft projection -andasetscrew Motor-clamping engagement with this shaft projection.

, The curved arms 4!! and 4 I of the bracket member and the curved members-36 and 3|- are connectedtogether'soas to forma band means 53 which-will now be further-described. The adjacent ends of" the curved "bandmember 38 and the curved arm '40 are provided with inter-fitting eyeportions' l l which are connected bya pivot pin 45 so as toform-a hinge-joint between these members. similarly, the adjacent endsofthe curved band member-31 and the curved arm at are'provided withinterfitting eye portions t3 which areconnected'by a pivot pin 4! for forming a hinge connection between these members.

The annular band means 43 is adapted to receivethe alternator 22 and to clampingly embrace the frame-25 thereof as shown in Fig. 2. The alternator is supported in the mounting device 24 by this clamping engagement of the band means around the frame 25 and by the engagement of the shaft projection 26- in the post '42.

For producing the clamping engagement of the band means 43 with the alternator frame 25 the adjacent ends 'of the curved band-members 35 and 31 are provided with substantially radially extending lugs 49 and 50 whichare disposed in adjacently spaced'relation and are adapted to be drawn toward each other by clamping bolts 5i extending therethrough.

The mounting device- 24 also includes a pair of =carrier'arms 52-and 53 which extend outwardly from the band means 43 in spacedapart relation and 53have relatively enlargedbase portions 52a and 53a which have seating engagement on the band means 63 and, in this instance, on the band members'35 and53l. For connectin the carrier arms 52 and 53 with the band means 43, the rigid -curv'ed -membersi'36, 37, 40 and 4| thereof have T slots *36a;fi3'1' 1;40a and Ma therein extending peripherally of the band means and the base portions 52aandy 53a carry clamping bolts 55 for engagement in these T-slots. The base portions 52a and 53a are also provided with tongues 56 on the bottom thereof which engage in the T- slots. Each of the T-slots'is provided 'at-ohe end thereof with an enlarged opening "57 through which the head of oneofthe clamping*bolts "55 can be passed. The curved members"36;-3l, 40 and t! also have peripheral-grooves*58 in the underside thereof which arecoextensive-witNthe slots 33a, 31a, 40a and-Ma and which' g'rooves receive the heads of the-clampingbolts 55 andhold the sameagainst turning (seeFig; 5).

The T-slots of the band means 43 p ermit shifting of the carrier arms- 52 and-53 peripherally of the band means to-different positions of adjustment which may be desirable for 'lo'catingthe rectifier 23 to best'advantage inthe air stream of the engine cooling system and'for avoiding' vibration interference between the rectifier and adjacent vehicle parts which might otherwise cause short circuiting or damage-t0 the rectifier Figs. 2 and 3 show the carrierarms'52 and" 53*mo unted on the band members'36 and 3'!- at such points of the band means that these carrier armsextend in a substantially vertical parallel "relation for locating the rectifier 23 at therea'roftheco'oling fan Is, as shown in Fig; 1.

The carrier arms '52 and 53 can-be shifted arcuately along the band members'35-and31for locating the rectifier 23'on'one side or the-other of the vertical center line'or, if,desired',- 'the'carrier arms 52. and 53 caIrbeshifted to thei broken line position shown in Fig. 3-in which the carrier arm 52 is mounted'on the curved armto gfithe bracket member 35 and 3 the" carrier arm 53 is mounted on'the bandmemberf-ifi. "Withfthese carrier armsmounted in this location the'rectifier will be supported in' a positionextending downwardly and laterally to thei'leftof the alternator, as seen in Fig. 3. Similarly,by:s'hitfing the carrier arms 52-and53 tothe ri'ghtahandiside of the band means, the rectifier canbe' suppoifted in a position extending downwardly and laterally to the right of the alternator. V V

For maintaining the carrier arms"'52' andf 53 in the desired position of adjustment andfto provide for small accurate increments of adjustment of these arms at thedifierent selectedpositions thereof, the band members *35f3l, 45and'4|"are provided with peripherally extending F rows of teeth or serrations 3617,5117, 40band4lbandthe base portions 52a and 53a-of the-carrier arms are provided with peripherally extending :rowsfof sides of the peripherally-exteriding slotfthereof. The base portions of the -carrier-arms 52-and 53 likewise have two rows of such serrations located on opposite sides of the clamping bolt 55 and the locating tongue 56.

When the carrier arms 52 and 53 have been shifted peripherally of the band means to the location corresponding with the position to be occupied by the rectifier 23 the clamping bolts 55 are tightened, thereby causing the serrations of the base portions 52a and 53a to be drawn into meshing engagement with the serrations of the band means. The meshing engagement of these serrations of the carrier arms and band means will eiiectively hold. the carrier arms against accidental shifting and the rectifier will thus be securely maintained in the desired position.

When the support for the alternator-rectifier unit It is formed by an adapter bracket, such as the adapter bracket shown in this instance, the bracket member 35 of the mounting device 24 can be connected with this adapter bracket by means of the screws 53a and 591). As shown in the drawing, the adapter bracket 39 is provided with a hat top surface 6i! against which the fiat lower surface iii of the bracket member 35 is clampingly held by these screws. The adapter bracket 39 can be suitably attached to the vehicle engine i l so as to permit a vertical sliding or shifting of this bracket relative to the engine for tightening the belt 19.

Instead of the vertically slidable adaper bracket 39 shown in this instance, various other appropriate forms of adapter brackets can be used which will be appropriate for the different makes of vehicles to which the alternator-rectifier unit is to be applied and, in some instances, an adapter bracket may be used which is pivotally connected with the vehicle engine so as to provide for tightening of the belt i9 by a swinging of the alternator-rectifier unit [0.

From the foregoing description and the accompanying drawing it will now be readily understood that this invention provides novel mounting means for an alternator-rectifier unit by which such a unit can be located to best advantage with respect to the stream of cooling air produced. by the engine cooling fan or by the forward movement of the vehicle and which will also provide for adjustment or variation in the positioning of the alternator-rectifier unit to cause tightening of the alternator belt and to prevent vibration interference between the rectifier and adjacent portions of the vehicle structure. It will now also be understood that the improved mounting means provided by this invention supports the alternator and rectifier in an adjacent connected relation so as to constitute a single unit and to facilitate the mounting thereof on the vehicle structure such as on the driving engine. will be seen that the novel mounting means of this invention provides flexible band means adapted to clampingly embrace the frame of the alternator and includes carrier arm means projecting from such band means for mounting a plate-pack type of rectifier thereon and in which the carrier arm means is adjustably shiftable peripherally of the band means and is adapted to be clamped in the position of adjustment selected to best suit the rectifier. Furthermore, it will now also be understood that the band means and the carrier arm means are provided with cooperating serrations by which the carrier arm means will be securely held in the selected position of adjustment and by which small accurate increments of adjustment can be easily obtained for a satisfactory positioning of the rectifier.

Additionally, it

Although the alternator-rectifier mounting means of this invention has been illustrated and described herein to a somewhat detailed extent it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not to be regarded as being limited correspondingly in scope but includes all changes and modifications coming within the terms of the claims hereof.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In alternator-rectifier apparatus, a mounting device comprising bracket means engageable with a support, band means connected with said bracket means and adapted to extend in embracing relation around an alternator for supporting said alternator, and a pair of arms carried by said band means and projecting outwardly therefrom in spaced apart relation and adapted for the mounting of a rectifier therebetween.

2. In alternator-rectifier apparatus, a mounting device comprising bracket means engageable with a support, an annular group of connected arcuate rigid members carried by said bracket means and defining band means adapted to eX- tend in embracing relation around an alternator for supporting said alternator, and a pair of rigid arm members carried by said band means and projecting outwardly therefrom in spaced apart relation and adapted for the mounting of a rectifier of the plate-pack therebetween.

3. In alternator-rectifier apparatus, a mounting device comprising bracket means engageable with a support, band means connected with said bracket means and adapted to extend in encircling relation about an alternator and to be clamped thereto for supporting said alternator, a peripherally extending series of teeth on said band means, arm means projecting outwardly from said band means and adapted for the mounting of a plate-pack type of rectifier thereon, said arm means being enlarged at the base thereof for seating engagement on said band means and provided with teeth for meshing engagement with teeth of said band means, and clamping means connecting said arm means with said band means and holding the teeth of said arm means in mesh with the engaged teeth of said band means.

4. In alternator-rectifier apparatus, a mounting device comprising bracket means engageable with a support, an annular group of connected arcuate rigid members carried by said bracket means and defining band means adapted to extend in embracing relation around an aiternator for supporting said alternator, a pair of rigid arm members projecting outwardly from said band means in spaced apart relation and adapted for the mounting of a rectifier of the plate-pack type therebetween, cooperating portions of said arcuate members and said arm members having serrations thereon for meshing engagement for holding said arm members at a desired location on the periphery of said band means and the serrations of said arcuate members extending for a substantial distance along the periphery of said band means to accommodate different settings of said arm members, and means for clampingly connecting said arm members with said band means for retaining the serrations thereof in meshing engagement.

5. In alternator-rectifier apparatus, a mounting device comprising bracket means engageable with a support, an annular group of arcuate rigid members including portions of said bracket means, means pivotally connecting said members in end-to-end relation to define band means 12 56 7 8 carried byrsaid bracket-meansandadapted to t-he -like-ha'ving--an annularframe, a -bra'cket f extend-around an alternator and'to be 'clamped -member adaptedato be connected with a'support thereto for supporting said alternator, said memand having a pair of oppositely' e'xtending curved "bers having slots therein extending peripherally --arms,-a pair of curved bandmembers having the of said band means and rows of teeth adjacent 5 remote'ends thereof flexibly conne t d it isaid slots and also extending peripherally ofsaid -'cu'rved-arms and cooperating therewith -to define bandmeans; a'pair or arms projecting outwardly band means adapted to receive said -frame,

relative to said band means andadapted for the clamping means cooperatingwith the-adjaeent mounting of a rectifier therebetween,saidarms -ends'ofsaid curved band'- members for-causing having base portions provided with teeth adapted m said band means to embracingly grip said frame for meshing engagement with teeth of said band -for supporting said alternator,- said-curved ;-arms *means at 'difierent desired locations'peripherally and band members having slots therein-extend- -"of'said band means, and clamping members con- 'ing peripherally of saidband means and rows of "ne'cting said base portions with said-band means *-'-teeth adjacent said slots" and also extending by-extending through said slots andalso holding 5 15 peripherally oi -said band means, a pair of carrier "the teeth of said arms in meshwith the engaged arms extending outwardly relative to said-band teeth of said band means. -means and adapted for mounting a =rectifier 6. In a mounting device or an: alternator or the'rebetween, said carrier-arms having 'base por- --the like having an annular frame, a bracket tions' s'eating on-said band means and-provided -member adapted to be connected with a supporti:zo -i'vith teeth having -meshing. engagement with and having a pair of oppositely extending curved teeth of said band means, and clamping members arms, a pairof curved band members having the connecting said base portions with said 4 band remote ends thereof flexibly connected with said mea-ns by extending through said slots and-also curved arms and cooperating therewith to define 1 maintaining the engaged teeth in meshing band means adapted to receive saidf'frame, and: z r'elation. clamping means cooperating with the adjacent 103 In a mountin device r'an alternator or --ends of said curved band members for causing like having an ar f ame and van axial said band means to embracingly grip said frame wishaft projection, a bracket member adapted? to for supporting said alternator. be connected with a support and'having an up- 7. In a mounting device-for analternator oifigo i g post a da hair :of oppositely "projecting the like having an annular frameand an axial *outwardly and upwardly curved-arms said post shaft projection, a bracket member adaptedto be C fi for S pp g e gagement with connected with a support and having-anupright r- Said? shaft P J' a pair Of curved band L. pQsf, d pair. of oppositely projecting outmembers having the remote ends thereoi fiex'ibly wardly and upwardlycurved arms,- said post haves nn t d With Said Curved-arms an pcratins ing means for supporting engagement with said :thereW ith to define band-means adapted y to I shaft projection, a pair of curved band members "r'l' e c said frame, andzcontractingcmean t D- i th mote thereof flexibly conerating with the adjacent-ends ofq-said: curved v with mcurved arms and ooperating band members for causingisaidaband means to therewith to define band means adaptedto; ob i s y p Saidfr s id curvedrarms receive said frame, and contractingmeans; coopand -band members having slots therein extendcrating with the adjacent ends of said curved ns:- p a11v i Sa d band means and rows of band members for causing said'band means to iateethaadjacent Said SIMSv findrralso e di g embraoingly grip said frame. g'perfipherally of-said bandrmeans a pair. of.-car- .8. In a mounting device for an alternator or extending Outwardly flt eetossaid the-like having an annular frame, br k t vbandmeans and-adapted for mounting arectifier member adapted to be connected: with a; support therebetween, Said carrier arms having ba and having a pair of oppositely extending curved '1 portions, Seating 11 id band meansand .D arms, a pair of curved band members having the @With teeth having meshing m nt remote ends thereof flexibly connected with said teeth of Said band means, and Clamping curved arms and cooperating therewith to -membe15 .Carried y aid base .portions and define band means adapted to receive said frame, 'Ielngaging. S id .band means through Said. slots clamping means cooperating with the adjacent lm nn ficting said carrier. arms with said band 1 ends of said curved band members 'for causing .imeansat desired'locations perip r ly reof said band means to embracingly grip said framev 5 n ls m n inin the engaged teeth in for supporting said alternator, said curved arms n 'l'elationand band members having teeth thereon; disa CUG LVY.

posed in roWs extending peripherallyof said-band means, a pair of carrier arms extending out- "REFERENCES CITED wardly relative to said band means and adapted 50 .The'efollowing. references are of -record inwthe for mounting a rectifier therebet-Ween, said car- ;-.file of-this. patent:

rier arms having base portions seating on said j band means and provided with teeth. having UNITED STATES PATENTS meshing" engagement with teeth of' said band b Name Date means, andclamping'means connecting said base 3, 5 75011115011. Au 91 portions with said band means and maintaining h 1 1 1 Parsons a Mar. 11; 1919 the engaged teeth in meshing relation. 3 31 fi fi Q- eb.'11,-'1933 "9.In a mounting device for'an alternator. or 3 1 onrad "l Oct;"8, il940 

